NC lawmakers propose using voucher funds, sports betting proceeds for childcare subsidies

May 7, 2026 - 02:51

A new proposal in the North Carolina legislature aims to tackle the state's childcare crisis by redirecting funds from two other major programs. House Bill 1066, called the "Child Care Stabilization & Affordability Act," would take a portion of the money currently set aside for private school vouchers and use it to help families pay for childcare.

The bill's sponsors say the goal is to shrink the long waitlist for subsidized childcare. Under the current system, many low-income families who qualify for help are stuck waiting because the state runs out of money. The plan would also pull in revenue from the state's new sports betting operations. Instead of sending all that tax money to a general fund, a share would be locked in for childcare subsidies.

Supporters argue that the state is spending heavily on school choice while ignoring the basic need for affordable daycare. They point out that without reliable childcare, many parents cannot work or attend school themselves. The bill would not eliminate the voucher program entirely, but it would cap its growth and redirect the excess.

Opponents are expected to push back hard. School choice advocates have spent years building the voucher system, which now serves tens of thousands of students. They see any attempt to cut its funding as a direct attack on families who want alternatives to public schools. The bill faces an uncertain path in a legislature that has strongly supported vouchers in recent years.

For now, the proposal puts a spotlight on a tough choice: whether to keep expanding private school options or to shore up the crumbling childcare infrastructure that affects even more families across the state.